Colin | Teacher #3245
About Colin
Colin, a highly educated and experienced music teacher, is dedicated to fostering lifelong joy in music-making among his students. With a diverse background in music composition, theory, piano, and cello, Colin offers a comprehensive approach to teaching that emphasizes posture, movement, tension, and kinaesthetic and aural awareness. He specializes in online instruction and provides lessons from his studio, offering a range of services including composition, music theory, and RCM exam preparation.
Piano Cello Organ Composition Ear Training Music History Counterpoint Harmony Music Theory (Beginner-Intermediate) Solfege Music Appreciation Dictation Composition RCM Music Theory (Advanced) RCM - Analysis RCM - Counterpoint RCM - History RCM - Advanced Harmony RCM - Intermediate Harmony RCM - Basic Harmony RCM - Advanced Rudiments RCM - Intermediate Rudiments RCM - Basic Rudiments
Online Lessons In Studio Lessons
Classical Jazz Pop Rock Rock and Roll Folk Blues Broadway Musicals Christian Gospel Progressive Rock Rhythm and Blues Baroque
English
Teaching Philosophy
Music gives me immeasurable joy; through teaching, I hope to equip students with the skills which can support their lifelong joy in music-making. In instrumental music teaching, I emphasize holistic attention to posture, movement, and tension, as these aspects of playing are often the most impactful to adjust. From an interdisciplinary body of knowledge (a classical performance background together with studies in somatics and experimental music), I highlight strategies for kinaesthetic and aural awareness which can support students' journeys towards fluency--and ultimately joy--in performance. I also distill these strategies into concrete practice techniques which can facilitate students' ownership over their learning and maximize the efficacy of their practice time. In composition teaching, I emphasize each student's development of a unique voice, and of a suite of techniques aligned with that voice. Concretely, I cultivate students' awareness of how to nurture the particular world emerging in a given piece-in-progress; I emphasize this regardless of style, and I draw on a wide repertoire knowledge (Western art music, jazz/creative music, pop music, experimental music, sound art) to support students who want to pursue any combination or conversation between these approaches to composition.
Musical Education
I have a PhD from the University at Buffalo (SUNY), an MPhil from the University of Huddersfield, and a BM summa cum laude from the University of Michigan. In all three degrees, my major was music composition, while I also did extensive study in music theory, piano, and cello. My principle teachers include... composition: William Bolcom, Betsy Jolas, David Felder, and Aaron Cassidy piano: Philip Thomas and Wendy Lee cello: Anthony Elliott and Jonathan Golove music theory: Andrew Mead, Kevin Korsyn, Ramon Satyendra, Charles Smith
Awards and Distinctions
BMI student composer award (2006) Presidential Fellowship, University at Buffalo (SUNY) (2011-2015) Dissertation Fellowship, University at Buffalo (SUNY) (2015) Stipend, Academy Schloss Solitude (2015) Mark Diamond Research Fund Award (2018)
Special Skills and Trainings
Music theory: private counterpoint study with Elwood Derr (2006); atonal music theory with Andrew Mead (2006) Composition private study and masterclasses with: Michael Finnissy (2008), Franklin Cox (2009), Brian Ferneyhough, Enno Poppe, Rebecca Saunders, Pierluigi Billone (2010), Augusta Read Thomas, Yehudi Wynter (2013), Chaya Czernowin, Ming Tsao (2015), Josh Fineberg, Chinary Ung (2016) Festival participation as a composer: Darmstadt (2010, 2014); June in Buffalo (2013, 2016); Northwestern University New Music Conference (2014); Academy Schloss Solitude Young Composer's Academy (2015)
Lessons in a music studio
Colin offers lessons from his studio. Map locations are approximate and based on the postal code of the teacher’s studio. The full address will be provided upon registration.Lessons on an online platform
Colin can provide online instruction. While other platforms are possible BAH strongly recommends the use of the Zoom video conferencing platform as it is optimized for music lessons and audio quality.Reviews
Associate Teacher Lesson Rates:
Colin is a Beethoven at Home Associate Teacher
- 30 minutes: $39
- 45 minutes: $49
- 60 minutes: $59
Home visit fee: $15 minimum fee. Teachers may negotiate a higher travel fee if the travel distance is longer than they are comfortable with. Most arrangements use the minimum fee.
One-Time Family Registration: $25. This covers your entire family for life - once you're in, everyone can take lessons!
Our Promise to You
Getting Started Together
We don't offer free trials, but we do something better - a relaxed 2-lesson getting-to-know-you period. You can pause anytime with just 24 hours notice. After your third lesson, we ask for a friendly 2-lesson heads up if you need to stop.
Life Happens - We Get It
Give us 24 hours notice for any cancellation or reschedule and you'll receive full credit. Planning a family vacation or summer break? Perfect - just let us know a day ahead and we'll pause your lessons.
When You're Under the Weather
If illness strikes with short notice (less than 24 hours), you'll still be charged since your teacher has reserved that time. However, most teachers are happy to offer makeup lessons when possible - they have the final say, especially if last-minute cancellations become a pattern.
Stopping Lessons
Need to take a break? We just ask for a 2-lesson notice:
Weekly lessons = 2 weeks notice
Every other week = 3 weeks notice
Twice weekly = 1 week notice
Summer breaks are different - no notice period needed when you return in the fall!
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